Best way to fix a squeaky floor?

Ragnahex

Ragnahex

Ragnahex

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8 Oct 2013
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The top floor of my house has awfully squeeky floors in it. Now i have never actually seen what is beneath the carpet up there and the property is quite old so have no idea what i am working with!
What would be the best option to sort this out? as it is driving me insane hearing movement up there when trying to sleep
 
Loose floor boards, pull the carpet back and see if you can secure them with some screws to stop them moving. It could also be down to loose nails on top of that, as they can be the cause of some horrible sounds. Depending on what's causing the sound, you might have to pull a floor board up, remove its nails and then secure it down again with screws.
 
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Only replace nails with screws or screw right next to nails. However brave you feel don't go screwing here there and everywhere. Then liberally shake talcum powder under the carpet.

Does it squeak less in the summer? If so think about a dehumidifier.
 
maccapacca said:
Only replace nails with screws or screw right next to nails. However brave you feel don't go screwing here there and everywhere.
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I'd also add don't screw into existing nail holes if the nail is missing and the board has be lifted in the past.

I was screwing down some boards in my sister's house that had at some point been lifted by plumbers/electricians and only loosely secured. I lifted every board to check underneath before fixing except one I noticed right at the end. Last screw, it'll be fine.. Yeah, someone had run a gas pipe under the edge of this board right under where it had originally been nailed and I just had to put a screw through it :(
 
When you say top floor, is this an attic room? Could be the wrong joists used, which means no amount of screwing floorboard down will help.

Usually is if it's the odd loose board it'll just creak in that area, not the whole floor.
 
Ragnahex said:
it's stories like that that put me off doing it :D
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It's not really very time consuming having to relift the disturbed boards and there should only be a few per room. You can also get a torch and mirror down there to have a look what's under the rest of your floor.

Another possibility is someone nailed hardboard/thin ply over the floor and that is what's creaking.
 
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